News

DETAILS: Saturday May 24, 2025, 10AM - 12PM Roncesvalles United Church, 240 Roncesvalles Avenue.

We will be ordering in choice and interesting plants from a select nurseries for resale, and are hoping members will contribute plants to be sold by growing vegetable, herb and annual seedlings in potting mix, as well as your houseplant offspring, and divisions which have to be specially prepared this year. WE NEED YOUR HELP, PLEASE.

CALLING ON GENTLY USED GARDEN SUPPLIES

Our "Green Elephant Sale (a mini flea market specializing in garden and plant materials) needs your donations. This is your chance to purge, so do take advantage.

Examples of what we're looking for:

• Gardening tools and pots (Please no plastic pots - they just don't sell) (Unless they are 4 inch ones which we'd like for transplanting seedlings!)
• Garden ornaments of all kinds (garden gnomes!)
• Bird houses & feeders
• Decorative vases & baskets
• Garden furniture (metal and wooden items sell better)
• For large heavy items deliver to the church the day before the plant fair

Please give items a quick wipe or rinse, so that they are in clean, saleable condition. Please, no plant books or magazines this year.

Deliver Your Green Elephant Items

Drop off on or before Monday May 19, to Mary’s front porch — 24 Abbott Avenue (a few blocks north of Bloor & Dundas). 

Need a Hand?

Need help transporting your goods? No problem. Email us at plantfair@parkdaletorontohort.com.

CALLING ON DIVISIONS

Having lots of plants for sale is vital to the success of our Plant Fair. If you think you may be able to donate some plants to our sale, we will be so grateful!

Shoppers seem especially interested in native plants, pollinators, house plants of all kinds, tropical plants, hard-to-find-plants, and so on.

Plant division's from your garden will be accepted only under strict conditions. You’ve undoubtedly heard about the jumping worms. Clement Kent talked about this invasive pest that has the potential to change our indigenous boreal forests as well as our backyard soil. It is a very real threat to our ecosystem. Please read our article with info about Jumping Worms by clicking here.

Please let us know what you plan on contributing, so that we can anticipate the quantities and types of plants coming. Email us at plantfair@parkdaletorontohort.com.

When To Start Digging Divisions

In April. The plants will need time to recover from transplant shock because you'll need to bare-root your divisions this year: wash away all soil with your garden hose, and then pot up your plants in clean pots with potting soil. Store the repotted plants off the ground where worms can not crawl back into them. We understand that this is a tedious extra step but it is absolutely essential for us all to do our best to minimize the spread of jumping worms. We can also provide you with soil and/or pots for free if you need it! 

Label Your Plants

• Plant Name: plus, if you know it's a native plant, definitely say so!
• Type: grass, shrub, ground cover, flower, vine, tree, etc.
• Partial to Sun, Shade, or a Mix: you can just draw a circle - hollow circle is sun, filled in is circle is shade, and half-and-half is a mix — see image below.

• Flower Colour (if applicable)
• Size (if possible)
• An Image (if possible): BONUS marks to those who can print off an image of the plant in bloom or fully grown. Just google it! An image really helps give people a sense of what the plant will look like in time, and it makes it easier to sell.

Deliver Your Plants

Drop off potted-up plants on or before Saturday May 10, to Jessie's front porch — 49 Boustead Avenue (one block south of Bloor & Dundas).

For Plants Grown From Seed & House Plants

If you've been growing plants from seed, or have house plants, these can be delivered directly to the Plant Fair venue (Roncy United Church) on Friday May 23th, between 6-8pm, or to Jessie's porch anytime that week.

Need a Hand?

Need help digging, dividing, root-washing (due to jumping worms), labelling, or transporting your divisions? How about help with repotting? Or do you just need some potting soil or clean pots? We have some donated potting soil that can be picked up in the Roncesvalles/Parkdale area. Contact us as soon as you can, no later than the end of April so we can mobilise  volunteers to help. Please email us at plantfair@parkdaletorontohort.com.

LET'S GET THE WORD OUT!

Please help us advertise our upcoming amazing Plant Fair!!!

You can...

• Print and POST POSTERS for our event on standard paper (8.5x11): Click here to download the poster
• Print, cut, and SHARE OR DROP-OFF FLYERS with your friends or at your favourite coffee shop:  Click here to download the flyers.
• SHARE our event with your friends on social media:

o Facebook

o Twitter

o Instagram

HELPING HANDS

And if you haven't already reached out to us to volunteer at our Plant Fair or even just to help with some of the prep work ahead of the big day, be sure to email us at plantfair@parkdaletorontohort.com.

Our 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held in person and via ZOOM on November 24 at 7PM.

The following documents are available for download and the AGENDA, BIOS and FINANCIALS are also presented below for easy access.

Agenda for the AGM November 25, 2024

Hort Board 2024 & Nominee Bios

Previous AGM Minutes (November 27, 2023)

Financials for the year ended September 30, 2024

AGENDA

1. Call to order of the 2024 AGM, Ron Charlemagne, President  Welcomes and introductions, Announcements, HOW TO VOTE

2. Report on quorum (20 members minimum)

3. Additions to /Approval of the agenda

4. Approval of the Minutes of the 2023 AGM held November 27, 2023

5. President’s Report, Ron Charlemagne  Motion to accept the President’s report

6. Financial Report from the Treasurer, Emieke Geldof Motion to approve Financial report, Motion to approve the use of financial reviewers for new fiscal year

7. Hand-over virtual gavel to Roberta Jennings, OHA District 15 Assistant Director

8. Elections to the 2024 - 2025 Board of Directors & Financial reviewers

Departing Members: Annelies Groen, Barbara Japp

New nominations for a 2-year term: Angela Fedele, Eduardo Barnett

Re-standing at the 2024 AGM for another 2-year term: Ron Charlemagne, Misbah Mukri-Tasci

Completing 2nd year of term: Emieke Geldof, Clement Kent, Helen Vorster, Judy Whalen

Call for further nominations

Nomination to approve the financial reviewers for this Fiscal Year 1 Oct 2024 - 30 Sept, 2025: Ingrid Whitaker & Patty McKnight

9. Installation: Acceptance of the slate by the Membership

10. Return of Virtual Gavel and Adjournment of the 2025 AGM

Introduction of the Speaker: Steven Biggs – Urban Vegetable Gardening

BIOS FOR BOARD MEMBERS & NOMINEES STANDING FOR 2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

New Nominees for 2-year term:

Angela Fedele

Member of the Parkdale and Toronto Horticultural Societies since September 2024. Over 15 years of experience in senior administrative roles and holding a diploma in interactive media and graphic design. Active community gardener in Parkdale and former Executive Assistant and Events Coordinator for the Parkdale Village BIA (2010). Led streetscape beautification and garden restoration projects and sourced plant donations to enhance local green spaces. Organised community events, including Nuit Blanche, and served on the steering committee for the H.O.P.E. Garden in Parkdale, achieving significant progress through community support and fundraising. Grew up near Ontario’s Greenbelt, fostering a lifelong love for nature and dedication to promoting green spaces in the GTA, Parkdale and Toronto.

Eduardo Barnett

Member of the Hort since 2000. Allotment gardener in High Park for many years, gaining knowledge and experience in gardening. Member of the Swansea Horticultural Society. Actively participates in monthly Hort meetings and volunteers for various garden projects and the Plant Fair. Enthusiastic about engaging with the community and members to better understand their needs and interests. Originally from Argentina, living in Canada since 1968, grateful to call it home.

Re-election for another 2-year term:

Ron Charlemagne

Member of the Hort since 2010; Board of Directors 2015 to present; Vice president 2017, 2018; Co-president of the Board 2019; President since 2020. Member of the Education and Outreach Committee, instituting the Info Table at the General Meetings. Knowledgeable in Horticulture and technical issues. Volunteers at the Hort Show the Flag events, setting up for meetings, and many other Hort events.

Misbah Mukri-Tasci

Member of Hort since 2022. Interested in helping to create and beautify community and public spaces. Supports the idea of access and encouragement for children to plant and learn about gardening. Resident of Roncesvalles Village since 2001. Changed our front and backyards from having only grass to perennial shade gardens, with some pollinators to help our friendly neighbourhood bees. Previous small business owner of children clothing store, Hoola Hoop Kids Store and children’s Theatre company, High Park Kids Theatre.

Completing second year of 2-year Term:

Emieke Geldof

Member of the Hort since 1995; Board of Directors 2011 to present; Recording Secretary in 2015, Treasurer since 2017. Member of Communications Team (manages Hort website and email communications). Enjoys painting, canoeing, nature, and good food. Has worked as a teacher, bookkeeper, software tester, documentation writer, software trainer and support person, and currently is a freelance bookkeeper. Originally from New Zealand.

Clement Kent

Founding member of the Parkdale Horticultural Society 1987. Clement Kent is adjunct professor of Biology at York University and a co-founder of the Parkdale Horticultural Society. He has helped lead the creation of several pollinator gardens by the Hort, as well as serving in most board positions, many of them several times. Vice-President since 2020.

Helen Vorster

Member of the Hort since 1994. Helped organise one of the early garden tours and wrote many of the speaker summaries for the previous Hort newsletter. Volunteer gardener at Kathy’s Garden at Stanley Park. Project Swallowtail member. Helen is an architect who works in residential and garden design with interests in sustainable design, natural landscapes, travel and art. Secretary since 2020.

Judy Whalen

Member of the Hort since 1991. Board of Directors since 1995; Treasurer (1998–2008); President (1997–1999); Newsletter editor (1999–2003); designed Hort’s first website in 1999; worked with MariLise Stonehouse on the speaker’s Programme (1997–2022); Community Garden Projects Coordinator since 1999.

Many thanks and gratitude to departing Board Members, Barbara Japp and Annelies Groen for volunteering their time and expertise to the Board and HORT society at large.

Financials for the year ended September 30, 2024

The Ontario government regulations (ONCA) have required that all non-profits align to new requirements for Constitutions by October of this year.

At the May 27th, 2024 meeting, Hort members will be asked to vote on any changes made to our Constitution to comply with these new guidelines.

The constitution has been amended to include the changes and additions requested by  the government and has also had some outdated sections updated. All changes and additions are indicated with red text.

The link to download the updated constitution is here.

To make comments, please send email to info@parkdaletorontohort.com

We received a request in January of 2024 from the Humber Arboretum. The Humber Arboretum has decided to start a volunteer team to help maintain 17 acres of ornamental garden spaces.  We are hoping to start with a small volunteer team and expand as we go forward, to ensure we are valuing the volunteers properly and meeting their needs (food, t-shirts, and more).

Do you know of anyone that would be interested in volunteering to help look after the ornamental gardens?

A few further details: 

• They will be working with vegetable gardens, native plants, and everything in between.
  
• Tasks include but are not limited to the following: planting annuals, deadheading, maintaining containers, weeding, pruning,  dividing perennials, and removing annuals.

• Helping to maintain the learning garden, including planting, training, and harvesting vegetables. Last year over 700lbs of veggies went to Rexdale Community Health Centre to help over 60 families in need. 

• This spring, we will be replanting native beds to help our local pollinators. 
• Shifts are one morning a week, from 8am-12pm with a 30 min break (day to be determined).
• Start dates are mid-April to early November, weather dependent.
• Tasks will vary and can be modified as needed. 

• If inclement weather occurs, there is greenhouse work.

• All equipment will be supplied. 

If you are interested or know others that might be, please send an email to info@parkdaletorontohort.com and we'll put you in touch with our contact.

Our 2023 Annual General Meeting will be held in person and via ZOOM on November 27 at 7PM.

The following documents are available for download and the AGENDA, BIOS and FINANCIALS are also presented below for easy access.

Agenda for AGM November 27, 2023

Hort Board 2023 Nominees Bios

Previous AGM minutes (November 28, 2022)

Financials for the year ended September 30, 2023

AGENDA

1.   Call to order of the 2023 AGM, Ron Charlemagne, President - Welcomes and introductions, Announcements

2. Report on quorum (20 members minimum)

3. Additions to /Approval of the agenda 

4. Approval of the Minutes of the 2022 AGM held November 28, 2022

5. Report of the President, Ron Charlemagne - Acceptance of the President’s report

6. Report of the Treasurer, Emieke Geldof - Acceptance of the Treasurer’s report

7. Appointment of financial reviewers for next fiscal year Sep 30, 2024 (Mary Mosser and Anne Wong)

8. Hand-over virtual gavel to Roberta Jennings, OHA District 15 Assistant Director. 

Elections to the 2023 - 2024 Board of Directors 

Re-standing at the 2023 AGM for 2023/24: Emieke Geldof, Clement Kent, Barbara Japp, Helen Vorster, Judy Whalen.

Completing 2^nd year of term: Annelies Groen, Ron Charlemagne, Misbah Mukri-Tasci

Call for further nominations 

9. Installation: Acceptance of the slate by the Membership

10. Return of Gavel and Adjournment of the 2023 AGM

11. Introduction of the Speaker 

BIOS FOR NOMINEES STANDING FOR 2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Re-election for another 2-year term:

Emieke Geldof

Member of the Hort since 1995; Board of Directors 2011 to present; Recording Secretary in 2015, Treasurer since 2017. Member of Communications Team (manages Hort website and email communications). Enjoys painting, canoeing, nature, and good food. Has worked as a teacher, bookkeeper, software tester, documentation writer, software trainer and support person, and currently is a freelance bookkeeper. Originally from New Zealand.

Barbara Japp

Member of the Hort since 2007. Board of Directors since 2007; Plant Fair committee 2008 to present; Communications Committee 2011 to 2018, Second Vice President 2011–2012, Newsletter co-editor Fall 2011 to Fall 2017. Co-President of Board of Directors with Diana Baxter 2013 to 2016. President of Board of Directors 2017–2018; Co-president Board of Directors 2019; Past President since 2020. St. George’s baskets volunteer, volunteer at CNE Garden Show. Volunteer at the OHA info table at the CNE and Canada Blooms. Volunteers at the Hort Show the Flag events. Plant Fair Committee.

Clement Kent

Founding member of the Parkdale Horticultural Society 1988. Clement Kent is adjunct professor of Biology at York University and a co-founder of the Parkdale Horticultural Society. He has helped lead the creation of several pollinator gardens by the Hort, as well as serving in most board positions, many of them several times. Vice-President since 2020.

Helen Vorster

Member of the Hort since 1994. Helped organize one of the early garden tours and wrote many of the speaker summaries for the previous Hort newsletter. Volunteer gardener at Kathy’s Garden at Stanley Park. Project Swallowtail member. Helen is an architect who works in residential and garden design with interests in sustainable design, natural landscapes, travel and art. Secretary since 2020.

Judy Whalen

Member of the Hort since 1991. Board of Directors since 1995; Treasurer 1998¬–2008; President of Board of Directors 1997 - 1999. Worked with Mari Lise Stonehouse on the speaker’s Programme 1997 to 2022, Community Garden Projects Coordinator since 1999; designed first website in 1999, Newsletter editor (1999–2003)

Completing second year of 2-year Term:

Ron Charlemagne

Member of the Hort since 2010; Board of Directors 2015 to present; Vice president 2017, 2018; Co-president of the Board 2019; President since 2020. Member of the Education and Outreach Committee, instituting the Info Table at the General Meetings. Knowledgeable in Horticulture and technical issues. Volunteers at the Hort Show the Flag events, setting up for meetings, and many other Hort events.

Annelies Groen

Member of the Hort since 2018. Experience in horticulture labour and landscape construction. Recent horticultural project: creation of a RAIN garden through a Master class. Proud host for the Swallowtail Project in the Annex. Professional background includes outdoor education workshops for primary teachers.

Misbah Mukri-Tasci

Member of Hort since 2022. Interested in helping to create and beautify community and public spaces. Supports the idea of access and encouragement for children to plant and learn about gardening. Resident of Roncesvalles Village since 2001. Changed our front and backyards from having only grass to perennial shade gardens, with some pollinators to help our friendly neighbourhood bees. Previous small business owner of children clothing store, Hoola Hoop Kids Store and children’s Theatre company, High Park Kids Theatre.

FINANCIAL REPORT

We are holding our AGM in person and online, please see our November meeting info for details. Here are the AGM documents:

Agenda

Board Bios

2021 AGM Minutes

Financials for the year ended Sep 30 2022

Before WildApricot, The Hort used Squarespace for its website and MailChimp for its newsletters. WildApricot can do both of those things, and more — like membership management, event registration, etc. With this change:

• Everything is consistent across our communications.

• Everything is centralized.

Members will automatically get newsletters when they join. And stop getting newsletters when they lapse. Furthermore:

• WildApricot will send out emails reminding users that it’s almost time to renew, that it’s time to renew, that it’s past time to renew, that they already renewed, etc.

The old Squarespace site will be available at https://ephemeral.parkdaletorontohort.com/ for a few more months.

You get a chance to highlight your favourite plants or garden designs. Send photos to us, newsletter@parkdaletorontohort.com by Friday May 27. Please don't send video files - they're way too big. If you want to show us a video, please upload it somewhere like Youtube, and send the link to it to us as above. Video pointers: no longer than 5 minutes, please so we can accommodate everyone. Make sure you give the public permission to see your video or we can't show it!

What you show doesn't have to be from your garden or balcony, it could be from a trip you did somewhere. 

   

Lorraine’s presentation is based on the new book she and Sheila Colla have co-written that’s coming out in May: A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee: Creating Habitat for Native Pollinators. In this talk, Lorraine explores some of the surprising corners of insect and plant relationships and how our gardens can support these dynamic interactions. Moving beyond charismatic species such as monarchs and milkweeds, Lorraine will share inspiring information about lesser-known creatures - moths, beetles and more - that are necessary for all life on earth, and how to welcome, not fear them in the garden.

Our 2021 Annual General Meeting will be held via ZOOM on November 29 at 7PM.

The following documents are available for download and the AGENDA, BIOS and FINANCIALS are also presented below for easy access.

Agenda for AGM November 29, 2021

Hort Board 2021 Nominees Bios

Previous AGM minutes (November 30, 2020)

Financials for the year ended September 30, 2021

AGENDA

1.   Call to order of the 2021 AGM, Ron Charlemagne, President - Welcomes and introductions, Announcements

2. Report on quorum (20 members minimum)

3. Additions to /Approval of the agenda 

4. Approval of the Minutes of the 2020 AGM held November 30, 2020

5. Report of the President, Ron Charlemagne - Acceptance of the President’s report

6. Report of the Treasurer, Emieke Geldof - Acceptance of the Treasurer’s report- Appointment of financial reviewers for fiscal year Sep 30, 2022 (Ingrid Whittaker and Patty McKnight)

7. Vote on the amendment to the Constitution (allowing business by Zoom)

8. Hand-over virtual gavel to Eleonora Schmied, OHA District 15 Assistant District Director

9. Elections to the 2021 - 2022 Board of Directors 

New nominations: Sarah Michelle Rafols

Re-standing at the 2021 AGM for 2021/22: Emieke Geldof, Clement Kent, Barbara Japp, Helen Vorster, Judy Whalen.

Completing 2^nd year of term: Annelies Groen, Ron Charlemagne

Call for further nominations 

10. Installation: Acceptance of the slate by the Membership

11. Return of Virtual Gavel and Adjournment of the 2021 AGM

12. Introduction of the Speaker Mari Lise Stonehouse

BIOS FOR NOMINEES STANDING FOR 2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

New Nominees for 2-year term:

Sarah Michelle Rafols

Member of the Hort since 2020, Sarah is interested in sustainable horticulture that builds and fosters community and biodiversity. Currently a horticultural technician journeyperson and the apprenticeship program manager at Landscape Ontario, she previously worked as an administrator, technician/gardener, groundskeeper, supervisor, and instructor in several green sectors, including green roofs and landscape maintenance. Sarah is a board member of the Ontario Parks Association Foundation and has been a volunteer at the High Park Nature Centre, LEAF, and Canada Blooms for over 10 years.

 Re-election for another 2-year term:

Emieke Geldof

Member of the Hort since 1995; Board of Directors 2011 to present; Recording Secretary in 2015, Treasurer since 2017.  Member of Communications Team (manages Hort website and email communications). Enjoys painting, canoeing, nature, and good food. Has worked as a teacher, bookkeeper, software tester, documentation writer, software trainer and support person, and currently is a freelance bookkeeper. Originally from New Zealand.

Barbara Japp

Member of the Hort since 2007. Board of Directors 2007 to present; Plant Fair committee 2008 to present; Communications Committee 2011 to 2018, Second Vice President 2011–2012, Newsletter co-editor Fall 2011 to Fall 2017. Co-President of Board of Directors with Diana Baxter 2013 to 2016. President of Board of Directors 2017–2018; Co-president Board of Directors 2019; Past President 2020. St. George’s baskets volunteer, volunteer at CNE Garden Show. Volunteer at the OHA info table at the CNE and Canada Blooms. Volunteers at the Hort Show the Flag events.

Clement Kent

Founding member of the Parkdale Horticultural Society 1988. Clement Kent is adjunct professor of Biology at York University and a co-founder of the Parkdale Horticultural Society. He has helped lead the creation of several pollinator gardens by the Hort, as well as serving in most board positions, many of them several times. Vice-President 2020 - 2021.

Helen Vorster

Member since 1994. Helped organize one of the early garden tours and has written many of the speaker summaries for the Hort newsletter. Dug and weeded for Kathy’s Grove. Has a small architecture firm that specializes in residential renovations and additions including garden design. Interested in sustainable design, maintaining our natural world, travel, art, and summers in Georgian Bay. Secretary 2020 - 2021.

Judy Whalen

Member of the Hort since 1991. Board of Directors 1995 to present; Treasurer 1998­–2008; President of Board of Directors 1997 - 1999. Works with Mari Lise Stonehouse on the speaker’s Programme 1997 to present, Community Garden Projects Coordinator 1999 to present; designed first website in 1999, Newsletter editor (1999–2003)

Completing second year of 2-year Term:

Ron Charlemagne

Member of the Hort since 2010; Board of Directors 2015 to present; Vice president 2017, 2018; Co-president of the Board 2019; President 2020 - 2021. Member of the Education and Outreach Committee, instituting the Info Table at the General Meetings. Knowledgeable in Horticulture and technical issues. Volunteers at the Hort Show the Flag events, setting up for meetings, and many other Hort events.

Annelies Groen

Member of the Hort since 2018. Experience in horticulture labour and landscape construction. Recent horticultural project: creation of a RAIN garden through a Master class. Proud host for the Swallowtail Project in the Annex. Professional background includes outdoor education workshops for primary teachers.

FINANCIALS